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However, long-range forecasts only give an indication of what may happen and the Met Office, for instance, does not offer forecasts longer than 30 days.

North Somerset Council, which is responsible for 1100 km of roads across the district, is now ensuring it has adequate supplies of rock salt at its storage barn in Sandford - should the harsh weather hit.

Authority chiefs say they have stockpiled 2000 tonnes of the salt in preparation.

And unlike some other authorities across the region which are facing cutting back salting routes due to budget pressures, North Somerset say there will be no reduction to normal salting routes.

The authority's six gritter lorries are on round-the-clock standby and can be called out to grit main routes with just two hours’ notice.

As this takes longer, crews are focused on main routes in the district such as the A370, A38, A368 and A369.

South Gloucestershire Council is looking to roll back its gritting programme

Council spokeswoman Zoe Briffitt said: "Our winter maintenance programme runs from the end of October through to the end of March but preparation starts as early as May when we review our operational plan and start considering how much salt we’ll need to treat our roads over the winter period.